President chooses nominee for state prosecutor-general

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Presidential Office announced yesterday that President Ma Ying-jeou has nominated Yen Da-ho (顏大和), chief prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors Office, for state prosecutor-general.

If the Legislative Yuan approves, Yen will succeed current Prosecutor-General Huang Shih-ming (黃世銘).

Coincidentally, Yen had green-lit a prosecution against Ma during the latter's tenure as Taipei mayor in the high-profile “special expenses” case. The district court, high court and Supreme Court all found Ma not guilty.

Presidential Office spokeswoman Garfie Li (李佳霏) said that after careful consideration of opinions from the judiciary and academia, the president decided on Yen from a list of candidates recommended by the Judicial Yuan and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).

Yen, 65, graduated from National Taiwan University's Department of Law, and completed his training at the Academy for the Judiciary under the MOJ. Yen was assigned to the Taichung District Prosecutors Office, and apart from serving briefly at the Fuchien Kinmen District Court, he has worked exclusively under the MOJ.

Li said that according to a survey released by the Prosecutors Association, Yen is highly regarded by his colleagues.

Yen has actively taken on cases that are highly sensitive politically as well as high-profile cases involving major financial scandals and corruption in the government.

Li said Ma recently met Yen and notified the prosecutor of his decision to nominate him.

The president told the prosecutor that if he wins the Legislature's approval, he will be expected to protect human rights, enhance the performance of the prosecution, increase public trust in the prosecution, uphold justice impartially on the basis of facts and evidence, and fight corruption, Li said.

Yen has worked as prosecutor in courts of first, second and third instances across the island, including in Taipei, Penghu and Pingtung, and also served as vice minister of the MOJ.

According to the Court Organic Act, the prosecutor-general is nominated by the president. If the Legislative Yuan approves of the nomination, the prosecutor-general can serve a non-consecutive four-year term.